There, a pathologist found that the eagle died by a quick stab to the heart from what appeared to be a loon beak, and the chick had eagle talon marks, indicating it had been captured by an eagle.

A nearby neighbour also told wildlife investigators she heard a “hullabaloo” the night before.

Wildlife biologist Danielle D’Auria, who works for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, shared the news on the department’s blog, noting it is the first confirmed case of a loon slaying an eagle.

“Who would think a loon would stand a chance against such a powerful predator?” she wrote.